No Definite Proof That Smartphones Are Harmful To Humans, Per US Government Study

The United States government conducted a study that aimed to find a link between the use of smartphones and cases of cancer. The study was carried out for several years, and just this week, the results were published by the US National Toxicology Program. Specifically, the study examined closely how radio frequency radiation at frequencies typically used in American wireless networks affected rats. The findings -- there may be a potential link, but no conclusion can be definitely drawn.

What the study did was expose groups of rats to various levels of radio frequency radiation. A number of the male rates went on to show low incidences of two specific types of tumors; one that occurs in the brain, and the other in the heart. As the rats were exposed to more radiation, it appeared that they were more likely to get cancer.

Right now, the latest estimates state that more than nine out of ten people living in the US own a mobile device. Are they in any danger? The US government study does shed some insight regarding the consequences of constant smartphone use, but when it comes to mobile devices as a direct cause of cancer, there is no conclusive proof. Much has been written about mobile devices and cancer. For every article that says there is a link, another gets published saying the exact opposite (just like the Australian study published earlier this month). Unresolved, this debate is set to continue for many more years.

Amidst the arguments and confusion, what do we know? Well, according to the US National Cancer Institute, there are a few reasons that phones could potentially cause cancer. One is radio waves, whose energy could be absorbed by tissues, especially those near the phone’s antenna. Another is the very rapid growth of smartphone use, increasing chances of more people absorbing energy from radio waves, and the fact that people today are spending more time on their smartphones.

But no study has ever shown conclusive evidence that there is a real, direct link, as opposed to just a potential one. Even experts on the field of cancer such as International Agency for Research on Cancer (a part of the World Health Organization) is yet to be convinced. As for the National Toxicology Program, even after publishing the reports of the US government study, has vowed to further analyze the findings. Meanwhile, the whole world continues to go about its daily routine in the mobile age.